Cabinet-desk



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-$11051: 1.

1 D. H. FLETCHER.

GABINET DESK.

'No. 341,100. Patented May 4, 1886.

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D. FLETCHER.

CABINET DESK.

Patented May 4, 1886.

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CABINET DESK. No. 341,100. Patented May 4, 1886,.

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GABINET DESK. No. 341,100. Patented May 4, 1886.

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CABINET DESK. No. 341,100. Patented May 4, 886.

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UNITED STATES D. HORACE FLETCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. CABINET-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,100, dated May 1,1886. Application tiled July 20, 1883. Serial No. 101,466. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, D. HORACE FLETCHER, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cabinet-Desks, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, iawhich- Figure 1 is a'frontview of said desk when closed.- Fig. 2 is an end view of the same,showing the use of rear posts and a station ary top. Fig.3 is a frontview when open, showing the top or cornice divided and forming a part ofthe sections. Fig. 4 is an end View of the same, showing the tableextended for use. Fig. 5 is a top view showing form with divided topwhen open. Fig. 6 is a top view of the base, showing the trucks for supporting and revolving the sections, with the bolster of one truckremoved. Fig. 7 is a longitmliiml sectional view of same, cut throughline 1 1., Fig. 6, with parts of sections indicated above. Fig. 8 is atop view oi'a modified form-of the desk with the stationary top removed,showing the sections partly open. Fig. 9 is a top view of the base,showing a modified form of truck. Fig. 10 isa longitudinal sectionalview of Fi 9, cut through the lines 5.3. Fig. 1]. is a bottom view ofthe stationary top, showing sliding blocks for supporting the sectionswhen ordinary trucks are used. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the same cut through lines 6 6, Fi 11, with a part of the sectionsindicated beneath. Fig. 13 is a top sectional view out through thelines2 2 and 3 3, respectively, in Fig. 22, showing the partitions asarranged above and below the table. Fig. 14. is a face view of the tophinge. Fig. 15 is a top view of the central hinge. Fig. 16 is aface viewof the bottom hinge. Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the middle hinge andits swivel connection, cut through the line 7 7, Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is aview of an iron brace to support the stationary top. Fig. 19 is a viewof a part of the tablebrace with a pintle upon the bottom. Fig. 20 is atop view of a part of the table so broken away as to show thespring-catches for holding the ends in position when in use. Fig. 21 isa face view of the same, cut through the line preferably indicated bythe rods connectin in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a front view of the desk whenopen, showing different means for inclosing and supporting the table,and Fig. 2.; is an end view of the same, showing the front cut away topermit the table to slide between two shelves.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a cabinet or combination deskwhich may be utilized either as a secretary in its entirety or as abookcase and secretary or cabinet, or in which any other similarmodification or combina-tion may beeli'ected, as desired, and which maybe compact in its form, occupying the same space when open as whenclosed, present an equally-pleasing appearance in both situations, thelocking of themain portion of which may be accomplished by a singlelock, and the. operation of which may besimplc and easy. Said object Iaccom 'ilish as follows: I construct said desk in two sections,preferably square, and of any height desired, each of said sectionsresting, respeetivi-xly, upon a pivot or bolster placed beneath or nearits center, said pivot resting in turn upon a easier or truck adapted toroll upon suitable tracks 0 r ways up on or within a frame-work beneaththe sections from which, if a small caster or truck is used, should beerected in the rear of the sections, two posts arranged to sustain a topor cornice above said sections, which top is provided with suitableguides or grooves beneath, in which blocks are placed adapted to slideback and forth, said blocks in turn forming bearings into which pivotsmay be inserted, the object of said stationary top with guides andblocks being to prevent a backward or forward movement of said sections,and thereby sustain them in an erect position. It is essential that saidguides beneath the top and said tracks upon the base shall runin thesame direction, which is preferably in .lines parallel to the front andrear of said desk. By means ofa wide truck having a suitable bolsterwith friction-rollers turning upon segmental tracks, so constructed asto present a broad base for the support of said sections, 1 am enabledto g said catches 5o modify said construction by dispensing with the useof said rear posts and stationary top, in which case the top may bedivided in the middle, each half forming a part of each section andmoving therewith. This I regard as the most desirable construction,though either form of truck may be used with the posts and stationarytop. In addition to said pivots or bolsters, I hinge said sections toeach other at their rear, prefcrabl y by means of three hinges, whichmaybe of the ordinary kind, but confer certain ad vantages by being madewith adouble joint, so as to separate said sections somewhat from eachother, as hereinafter more fully set forth. Upon the top hingc,projecting upward, and upon the lower hinge, projecting downward,are slotted lugs, into which the flanges of angleirons may be fitted,said irons or their equivalents being rigidly secured across the top ofthe base at its center and across beneath the stationary top on the sameline as the for mer. Said angle-irons are fitted loosely into saidslotted lugs and form guides for thebaekward and forward movement of thehinges. It is obvious that a movable post ol'suflicient w i dth may beused,instead of the double-jointed hinges, to separate said sections,each section being hinged in turn to said post, which may be providedwith slots,or may run in suitable guides on the bottom and top; but Ipre fer the hinges as being stronger and lighter. These devices whenused together cause the sections as they are turned upon theirrespective pivots to partake of such a double movement as to enable thehinged corners of the see lions to pass forward on a straight line,thereby causing each section to makeone-quarter of a revolution, theinside being turned outward and presented to the front, and the whole tosta d in proper line above the base, thus oc cupying the same space whenopen as when closed, said sections conforming in either po sition to thesize and shape of the base.

Projecting forward from the central hinge and secured thereto by aswivel-connection is a flange, to which a table may be secured, thefront of said table being supported by a brace or bracket having itslower end resting in a socket or other like device upon said bottomhinge. The table may be supported at the ends by suitable projections onthe parts of the desk where it is desirable to have the ends of thetable rest, and maintained therein by suitable spring-catches or slidingbolts; or the table may remain in a horizontal position and slide backbetween shelves; or it may be divided across the middle and so hinged asto raise up or be lowered in such a way as to be inclosed in the spacecaused by the separation of the sections, all of which will behereinafter more fully described, and definitely pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, A A are the sections, the

weight of which, respectively, is supported beneath its confer uponpivots I]; 1;, having their trucks R 1B, but

bearings upon casters or preferably a modified form of truck, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7, hereinafter more fully described, said trucks,i'nwhatever form used, being preferably mounted upon tracks I) b b 1),Figs. 6 and 9, upon a stationary base or frame, 0, Figs. 6, 7, 9, and10. I prefer to make the frame 0 substantially as shown in the drawings,w th the crosspiece O, as shown in said last-named figures, for thebetter support of the tracks I), and to form a base for an angleiron orsimilar guide, 0, more clearly shown in Figs. 5, 8, and 9. I do notconfine myself to the specific form of guide shown, but claim anysuitable device that is capable of accomplishing a like result. I hingethe sections A A together at the back, as shown in Figs. 5 and S, by anyform of hinge, D, but preferably by means of double-jointed hinges, asshown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16, respectively, the central hinge of which,Fig. 15, is a top view, being preferably provided with a flange, d, forthe support of the table, said flange having a horizontal swivel orpivotal bearing, (1, more clearly shown in Fig. 17, which is a sectionalview of the same cut through the line 7 7, Fig. 15. The bottom hinge,Fig. 16, is provided with a slotted downward projection, 11, into whichthe upward-projecting flange of the an gle or L iron 0 is adjusted, soas to form a guide upon which said hinge may slide back and forth. thecentral hinge is secured, as stated, tne table E, which is preferablyfolded within the desk by turning the same upon said swivel to avertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which is a frontView, and also as indicated in Fig. 8,whieh is a top view. Space forsaid table may be obtained within the desk when closed either by makingthe compartments therein of less depth or by separating the sections, asshown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 8, by means of said double-jointedhinges D, or otherwise, in which event, to close the space in the rearcaused by said separation, I secure a thin piece or slat, 4, clearlyshown in Fig. 3, to said hinges by means of screws d, or otherwise; orportions of the back may be extended to meet together in the middle, andthus fill said space. Projections or flanges d, Figs. 3, 4, and 8, inthe front of the desk serve alike. purpose, and, further, to form an endsupport for the table, as shown in said Fig. 3, the projections e 'eforming stops to prevent said table, when moved in the rection of thearrow, from revolving beyond ahorizontal position. To hold said table insuch position when thus revolved, I provide spring-catches e e, of theusual form, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and shown in detail inFigs. 20 and 21, Fig. 20 being a top view of the rear part of the tablecut away to show said catches, which may be operated separately at eachend, but preferably by means of a knob or thumb-piece, 6 Figs. 20 and2]., pivoted in the middle of said table and having a cross-pin therespective ends of which may be connected with the catches volved.

6' e by means of rods or wires e 0, having the spiral springs thereon,as shown. It is obvious that a pressure or turn upon the thumbpiece emust serve to withdraw the catches and release the ends of the table,when the same may again take an upright position, as shown. To permitthis action it is obvious that the bcvels on the catches. e 0 should bein opposite directions. I prefer to tip the pro-' jections e e withrubber, thereby preventing the catches e e from making noise or causingthe table to be unsteady. As a front support for said table I prefer touse a brace or bar, F, so hinged at its top to the table, as shown inFig. 4, as to permit said table to be re- The lower part of said brace Fmay be secured rigidly to the bottom hinge, D, or may be provided with apintle, as shown in Fig. 19, or any suitable device to permit the sameto be'removably adjusted in a corresponding socket, d, upon the lowerhinge, D. (Shown in Fig. 16.) This arrangement permits the table to beso hinged, as shown at c, Fig. 23, as to be raised up, thus peri'nittinga more ready access to the lower part of the sections than when thetableis in a position for use.

As a modification of said mode of folding the table E within the desk,the same may be secured rigidly to said central hinge and allowed topass back between shelves E 1*) F E, Fig. 22, the front of the deskbeing cut away, as at c, Fig. 23, which shows the front of one section.at the end as it when said desk is open, thus permitting thc'table to beof the full size of the desk, and to move out without obstruction, inthe manner ilnlicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

The movement of the sections of said desk in opening and closing thesame is as follows: Assuming the desk to be closed, the pivots B B standin their normal position, as in Figs. (5, 7. By grasping the handles aa, Fig. l, and pulling them apart, the fronts of the sections A Aareseparated, each turning upon its respective pivot B, thus rolling thetwo trucks B B away from each other and toward the respective ends ofthe base or frame (i, the hinges D in the meantime moving forward in astraight line over the crossbar (3 being kept in line by the guidec,above described. \Vhen said desk is half open, said sections take thepositions respectively as shown in Fig. 8, at which time the trucks B Bhave attained their farthest outward movement, as shown in Fig. 10, fromwhich as the desk is opened wider the direction of their movement isreversed, and when fully open, as in Fig. 5, they are again in theirnormal position, at which time the book cases or parts forming the frontof the desk when closed are at the ends. This movement I regard as noveland very important, as in no other way can the desk be so operated orrotated as to conform to the same space when open as when closed, and inno other form of desk can a bookcase and secretary embodying equal spacebe combined, owing to the weight which it is necessary to sustain whenin use.

It is obvious that any kind of truck or easter may be used to accomplishthe movement above described, provided the sections A A are maintainedin an upright position; but I prefer the form of truck shown in Figs. 6and 7, for the reason that the truck itself may serve as a sufficientbase to preserve the sections erect. iy means of said trucks I amenabled to obtain a broad basal support, while the bearings may be inthe most desirable position when the desk is open.

'13, Fig. 6, shows the trucks of such length that they may attain theiroutward move ment without touching the ends of the frame 0. From theleft-hand truck the bolster or pivot B is removed, while a top view ofsaid bolster is shown in the right-hand truck in its normal position, oras it is when the desk is closed.

The trucks 1 '5 are each provided with two segmental tracks, I) If, uponwhich wheels I) b b Z) on the ends, respectively, of four projectingarms or axles, b b b b, revolve. Said tracks should be placedsufficiently low to permit the wheels I; to rotate below the top of thebase (3, thereby permitting said sections to be placed near the base orframe. As the sections A. A rotate the trucks B B move out and backwhile the bolsters B, sccured to the sections, as shown, complete aquarter of a revolution upon said segmental tracks, thus bringing thewheels in the rear to the middle, while thoseof the long axles, standingnormally upon the line 1 l, are brought to the front, the short axleschanging in a corresponding manner.

As an equivalent of the aboveconstruction it is obvious that theconditions may be reversed, and instead of the rotating arms and wheelsdescribed, placed at fixed points at the front and rear,

respectively, and upon the top of said trucks so as lo bear uponsegmental plates upon the bottom of each section.

I prefer to make the wheels b of the tracks E ii with ilangcs or grooveson their pcriplr ery, so that they may not be in danger of running offthe tracks I).

The tracks b may be of angle-iron or strips of wood with iron plalesthereon and secured to the bottom of the frame (3, and extending inwardtherefrom as shown in said Fig. 6, while said trucks 1% 3 may beprovided with hi or llanges projecting beneath said tracks and slidingthereunder, so as to secure said sections to the base and prevent theirsepa ration while transporting the desk. Should a narrow truck be usedas, for example, that shown in Figs. 9 and ll0the same may be utilizedby adopting additional means for the vertical support of said sectionsupon their respective pivots. This may be readily acconiplishcd byerecting posts G G (shown in friction rollers may be secured to the baseelevation in Fig. 2 and in section in Figs. 8 and 9) in the rear of saidsections and rigidly or frame C, preferably at the corners. To the topof said posts G G, I secure, by means of corner-irons, as in Fig. 18,fastened to the inside of the post and cornice, respectively, astationary top, A, Fig. 2, a bottom View of which is shown in Fig. 1].,beneath which I place guides II II, in. which may be fitted slidingblocks I I, having bearings z t at their centers for the reception ofpivots z" 2', Fig. 12, secured to the tops of said sections by means ofsuitable plates, '13 (Better shown in Fig. 8.) The posts G G andstationary top A serve, by means of said guides and blocks, to preventsaid sections from tipping forward or backward upon their pivots, whilethe blocks I I correspond in their movement to the trucks B 13. Saidblocks may be provided upon their sides with friction-rollers, itnecessary, to facilitate their movement between said guides.

To preventthe stationary top from moving laterally by means of thewarping orbendiug of the posts G G, and thus impairing the appearance ofthe desk, I secure an angleiron or other suitable guide, of, beneath thetop A, in which event a slolteding should be placed upon the top hinge,l), as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 14.

Fig. 13 shows one mode, and for most purposes the one which I prefer, oipartitioning said sections.

K K may be used as closets for storing papers not in use, or as anordinary ca.l. inet, the doors 76 k thereto being shown in Fig. 2.

The com jiart'ments It indicate pigeon-holes in the upper part of onesection, which may or may not be a duplicate of the other, out throughthe line 2 2, Fig. 22, while 7." are receptacles for blank-books and thelike, and show a section cut through the line 3 3, Fig.

K K show the bookcases as in Fig. l. It is obvious that the entirei'ront may be used as a book-ease by limiting the eonipartinents in thesecretary, or the whole may form a secretary or cabinet, as desired.Ill" the divided ed top is used, com partments-may be arranged thereinas shown in Fig. 3, thus utilizing the entire space within the desk. Ido not confine myself to any special form oi arranging the compartments,as any modification may be made therein to comply with particular wants.

WVhen the posts G G are used, in order to prevent placing them tooih.r-back, or in such a position as to be unsightly, I prefer to roundthe rear corners, as shown, though otherwise it is unnecessary, exceptto obviate the appearance of having too great a depth, or to avoidstanding the same too far from a wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 15"" 1. In a eabinetdesk, the combination of twosections hinged to each other, roller-trucks for supporting saidsections, common base for the reception of said trucks, and a transverseguide upon said base for engaging and directing said hinge-connectionacross said base on a line at right angles, or approximately so, to theline of movement described by said trucks, substantially as andrespectively, a'

a common base with longitudinal tracks for the rcazeption of saidtrucks, double-jointed hinges for connecting said sections, and atilting table provided with asuitable support attached to said hingedconnection, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a cabinet-desk, of two sections doubly hinged toeach other and having an intermediate connectingpart between the axes ofsaid hinges, separate trucks upon which they are pivotally mounted, astationary base with tracks arranged in the directi on of its length formounting said trucks, a transverse guide upon said base midway betweenits ends, and a slotted lug arranged midway between said hinges toengage said guide, wh ercby the rotation of said sections may cause saidtrucks to move simultaneously in opposite directions, and permit saidhinges to pass in .a straight line to and from the front and rear ofsaid base, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In combination, the pivotally-mounted rotating sections ofacabinet-desk united to each oter by an intermediate hinged connection,and a suitable table having its support attached to said hingedconnection, substantiall y as described.

6. In combination, the pivotally-mounted rotating sections of acabinet-desk united to each other by anintermediate hinged connection,and a tilting table having a support attached tosaid movable hingedconnection, substantially as described.

7. In a eabiuct-dcsk, the combination of the sections A A, hinged toeach other, trucks for pivotally supporting the same, base having waysfor the reception of said trucks, transverse guide 0, and slotted lug(P, with table 16, provided with a suitable bracket and detachable endfastenings for supporting the same horizontally, substantially asdescribed.

8. In combination with the rotating wings of a cabinet-desk mounted upontrucks, 2.

stationary base, doublejointed hinges D, swivel (1, attached to thecentral hinge, a tilting table connected therewith, and the slotted lugd, and guide 0, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a cabinet-desk, of rotating wings, a stationarybase, trucks thereon for mounting said sections, an intermediate movablehinged connection for uniting said sections, and a table having its sup-:0 port attached to said intermediate connection, whereby said table maybe drawn back and inelosed within said sections upon shutting the desk,substantially as described.

1). HORACE FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

P. G. DYRENFORTH, J AMES H. PEIROE.

